Rupture appliance



Nov. 3, 1925. 1,560,169

A. J. LA DUKE RUPTURE APPLIANCE File d Nov. 26', 1925 Aura/ 511 Bums ,B 221%! 2735/ Patented Nov. 3, 1925.

i UNITED STATES, PATENTOFFICE.

ANTOINE J. LA DUKE, 0F MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

RUPTUBE APPLIANCE.

Application filed November 26, ms. Serial no. 677,176.

To uZZ whom it nmg concern:

Be it known that I, AN'rorNn J. LA DUKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rupture Appliances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to trusses such as rupture appliances and the main object is to provide a simple, efficient and practical support for use in the treatment of scrotal, umbilical, and similar ruptures. Further objects will be disclosed in the course of the following specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the device as arranged when in one position of the body.

Fig. 2 is a detail view, partly in section, of the rupture retaining member.

Referring to the drawing more particularly and by reference characters, 3 designates an adjustable belt, having an adjustable leg or groin strap 4, both of which are readily connected and opened by clasps 5 and 6, all of common and well known construction.

The rupture retaining device is inserted in an opening in the belt, and consists, primarily, of a link 7 extending through a hollow flexible rubber bulb 8. The link 7 has a pair of loops 9 and 10, at its ends, for engagement by the belt ends, and the ends of the wire forming the link are twisted back upon the shank thereof, within the bulb, so as to be concealed by the bulb. In constructing this ortion of the truss it is necessary to first orm the loop 9 and make the necessary winding of that end of the wire, then insert or thread the opposite end of the wire through the bulb, and after forming the loop 10 compress the bulb toward the loop 9, after which the other end of the wire can be properly twisted. When the bulb is then released it will assume its natural condition with its perforated ends adjacent to the respective loops.

The bulb 8 is hollow and although it depends largely upon the air within 1t for its efficiency, it is not inflated with air nor does it depend upon a cushion of air within it to give it the proper cushioning effect against the body of the wearer. The necessary resiliency is effected by the rubber or other resilient or elastic material used inthe bulb, and the flexibility of the material is somewhat counteracted by the fact that the ends of the bulb abut against the loops 9 and 10 and thus prevent the bulb from flattening against the body, which it of course would do if the shank of the link was longer than the bulb. This construction naturally permits a thinner rubber to be used in the bulb than would be the case if the reacting resiliency of the bulb depended entirely upon the elasticity or resiliency of the material itself.

To thus be able to utilize a comparatively thinner material in the bulb is very important as one of the applicants objects is to effect a cool bodyv contacting piece, and, as a result, eliminate much of the sorenessand irritation that has heretofore been one of the main objections and drawbacks to devices of this character. With inflated and filled pads, whether made of wood, metal, rubber, leather, or any other material, the

irritation resulting from frictional and body heat is an objectionable and often a serious and fatal obstacle to the proper and successful use of'the truss.

But this is not the case in the present instance. With the device herein described, in use, it is found that the bulb contacts with a comparatively small part of its surface against the body under ordinary circumstances, but when the body expands against the bulb this bearing surface increases, and for each movement of the body which is sufficient to compress the bulb (even slightly) there will be a proportionate expulsion of old warm air through the link holes, and a suction of cooler air back into the bulb when it assumes its normal extended position. It will thus be obvious that motions of the body will actuate the bulb to the end that it will automatically cool itself.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to limit myself to a one bulb truss, nor to a truss employing a bulb in the particular position shown in the drawing. It is further understood that suitable modifications may be made in the device, as herein set forth, provided, however, that such modifications come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having now therefore fully shown and described my invention What I claim to be new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described nected to the ends. of :the liriktto secure the device upon the body.

2. A device of the character described consisting of a resilientt bulb having oppositely arranged perforatlons, a member extending through the bulb and perforations and having means at its ends for securing it upon the body.

3.A1device of the character described consisting of a resilient bulb having oppositely arranged perforations, a member extending-=thronghthe perforations and havingenlargements at its ends to prevent longitudinal expansion of the bulb.

In testimony WhereofI aifix my signature.

ANTOINE J. LA DUKE. 

